Thomas Butterworth Bayley (1744–1802) was an English

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judi ...

, agriculturist and

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives for the public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private good, focusing on material ...

Background

He was from an old Lancashire family, and his mother was one of the Dukinfields of

Dukinfield Dukinfield is a town in Tameside, Greater Manchester, England, on the south bank of the River Tame, Greater Manchester, River Tame opposite Ashton-under-Lyne, east of Manchester. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census, the built up ar ...

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...

. Shortly after completing his education at the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

, he was chosen a justice of the peace for the county palatine of Lancaster. The reputation he acquired by led to his being appointed a few years afterwards perpetual chairman of the quarter sessions. He was appointed

High Sheriff of Lancashire The High Sheriff of Lancashire is an ancient office, now largely ceremonial, granted to Lancashire, a county in North West England. High Shrievalties are the oldest secular titles under the Crown, in England and Wales. The High Sheriff of Lanca ...

for 1768.

Magistracy

Principally by his efforts, an improved gaol and penitentiary-house for

Manchester Manchester () is a city and the metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It had an estimated population of in . Greater Manchester is the third-most populous metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, with a population of 2.92&nbs ...

was erected in 1787. In his honour, it was named the New Bayley. The building was pulled down in 1873. After improvements introduced in its construction, and in that of the county gaol at

Lancaster Lancaster may refer to: Lands and titles *The County Palatine of Lancaster, a synonym for Lancashire *Duchy of Lancaster, one of only two British royal duchies *Duke of Lancaster *Earl of Lancaster *House of Lancaster, a British royal dynasty ...

, Bayley was consulted in regard to the erection and improvement of prisons throughout the country.

Health Conditions

Bayley also took an active interest in sanitary reform, and in schemes for improving the condition of the poor. In 1796 he was successful in obtaining in

the establishment of a board of health, of which he was chosen chairman. He was one of the founders of the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester, and of a college of arts and sciences, which was later abandoned. Much of his spare time he devoted to agriculture, and on his farm of Hope near Manchester introduced various new agricultural methods, including an improved system of sod draining. He wrote a pamphlet entitled ''On a Cheap and Expeditious Method of Draining Land'', which was published in

Alexander Hunter Dr Alexander Hunter (1729–17 May 1809) was a Scottish physician, known also as a writer and editor. Life Born in Edinburgh in 1729 (the ''Memoir'' says 1733), he was eldest son of a prosperous druggist. He was sent to the grammar school at ...

's ''Georgical Essays'', vol. iv. (1772), and vol. i. (1803). He was also the author of ''Observations on the General Highway and Turnpike Acts'', 1773. Bayley was elected

Fellow of the Royal Society Fellowship of the Royal Society (FRS, ForMemRS and HonFRS) is an award granted by the Fellows of the Royal Society of London to individuals who have made a "substantial contribution to the improvement of natural science, natural knowledge, incl ...

in 1773. He died at

Buxton Buxton is a spa town in the High Peak, Derbyshire, Borough of High Peak, Derbyshire, in the East Midlands region of England. It is England's highest market town, sited at some above sea level.Alston, Cumbria also claims this, but lacks a regu ...

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire to the north, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south-east, Staffordshire to the south a ...

, on 24 June 1802.

Notes

;Attribution {{DEFAULTSORT:Bayley, Thomas Butterworth 1744 births 1802 deaths English agricultural writers Fellows of the Royal Society High sheriffs of Lancashire Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society Alumni of the University of Edinburgh